VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo continues to promote the concept of Indo-Pacific to ASEAN member countries and Australia. During his visit to Australia attending ASEAN-Australia Summit 2018 on 15-18 March 2018, President Joko Widodo did not forget to disclose the concept of Indo Pacific. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi explained in Sydney, Australia on Sunday (18/3/2018) that the purpose of the concept, which is the President focuses on strengthening cooperation in the Indian Ocean, is based on strong cooperation in the Asia Pacific region.

What and how exactly is the Indo-Pacific Concept?

The concept of Indo Pacific has become a major issue since President Joko Widodo visited India early in 2018. In the ASEAN-India Summit in Rasthrapati Bhawan, India, last January, President Joko Widodo revealed the concept of the Indo-Pacific region. It is through a mechanism led by ASEAN and through ASEAN-India partnership. President Joko Widodo believes that a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region can be achieved. He further said that the Indo-Pacific concept can naturally be developed based on the ASEAN Cooperation and Cooperation Treaty where all the important countries in the region have become related stakeholders to the agreement.

When called by US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson on January 15, 2018, Minister Retno Marsudi expressed the same thing. Similarly, when US Defense Secretary, Jim Mattis visited Indonesia shortly thereafter, Minister Retno again pointed out the idea of ​​the Indonesian government to explore more intense international relations in the Indian Ocean, which so far has not been fully regulated.

Indonesia expects the Indo-Pacific region will become one of the main sources of economic growth, trade and industry center of the world. The concept of the Indo-Pacific region was also raised in the annual press speech of Minister Retno Marsudi at the Foreign Ministry Building in Jakarta in early January.

Indonesia is in consultation with ASEAN. Even soon, it will be hosting "one and the half-track diplomacy" which discusses about the Indo Pacific.

The main point of the Indo-Pacific concept that Indonesia has offered is the concept that promotes dialogue and cooperation, instead of competing against one another in which ultimately, the competition will bring about disadvantage for all parties. This concept is jointly shared and no country feels left behind or abandoned by Indonesia.

Indonesia  is a rich country in cultural diversity. The diversity is formed by a lot of tribes who live in Indonesian regions and spread out on various islands. Every tribe has tradition, regional language, art, regional songs, traditional houses, including traditional clothes. In general, every traditional cloth is completed with traditional weapon; Take for examples: Golok from Jakarta or Betawi, Kujang from West Java, Piso Surit from North Sumatra, Rencong from Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, and many others. West Sulawesi province has various kinds of tribes such as Mandar, Pattae, Pannei, and Pattinjo. Mandar tribe has traditional weapon, namely Jambia. In the past, farmers used the weapon for hunting or killing animals which damaged their plants. The weapon was also used as protection for them who wander. Jambia is a traditional weapon similar with Badik or knife. Its form is quite wide at the middle and its tip is sharp. Jambia has two types, namely Jambia Baine for woman and Jambia Muane for man. Compared to Badik from another region in South Sulawesi, the characteristic of Jambia can be seen whether it has Cipiq or Bisaq. Cipiq is a mark on Jambia which is split into edges. While, Bisaq is a mark to split two parts of Tondong or  the Cak of Badik, and penetrates from above until bottom. In old belief, the second characteristic is considered good to be used for trade and farming, because it is believed to get a lot of luck. The names of the Jambia’s parts are Pulu or head of Jambia which functions as handle and Oting is the part at the base that is planted inward on Pulu, Tondong, Seqde, and Uyung or tip of Jambia. While its cover is called ‘Guma’.

Voice of Indonesia presents keroncong songs by Bram Aceh. The song entitled Mawar Sekuntum is the original keroncong song. Mawar Sekuntum describes a beautiful woman. The lyrics in the song are written using poetic words : “Bilakah kuncup mawar indah mekar, lama sudah aku menanti ingin memetik sekuntum. Dikala cahya senja kemerah-merahan tertiup angin pasang merayu kesuma...” (When will the beautiful roses bloom, I'll wait for patiently, the time to pick it... in the light of dusk etc..) The original keroncong songs Mawar Sekuntum has also been sung by many singers, including Bram Aceh. The singer has a strong vocal character. His ability to sing various genders of song, especially keroncong songs has been known all over the archipelago even in some neighboring countries. Bram Aceh was also known as “the Father of Indonesian Keroncong”.

The song “Di Bawah Sinar Bulan Purnama” tells us about how beautiful of the night when the full moon shines. The beauty can even remove the feeling of sadness or misery. The song “Di Bawah Sinar Bulan Purnama” was composed by R. Maladi, former Minister of Information and State Minister of Youth and Sports in the 60s era. Listener, Bram Aceh was born in Banda Aceh, on March 4th 1913 with the real name of Abraham Titaley. Since he was born and grew up there, Bram was eventually known as Bram Aceh.

Bram Aceh’s career in Indonesian keroncong music began when he moved to Jakarta in 1930s. At that time, Bram became a keroncong singer at Pasar Gambir, a night market originally called Koninginnedag or the Queen's Day, which was held to honor and celebrate the coronation of the Dutch Queen Wilhemina. In 1934, Bram managed to make his first vinyl record. In 1955, Bram Aceh won the Keroncong Jakarta Raya contest. Then, Bram Aceh often appeared in various keroncong performances in tourism attractions and some big hotels in Jakarta. Besides Indonesia, Bram Aceh also had time to sing in Tong Tong Night Market, Den Haag, Netherlands in 1981 and 1982. Then on May 8th, 2001, Bram Aceh passed away in Jakarta due to the age factor. However, his talent and singing habits are revealed to his grandchildren who follow his footsteps in the music world, such as Harvey Malaiholo, Irma June, and Glenn Fredly.

Regional government of Southeast Maluku encourages "one village one product" program to indicate commitment of the region in optimizing potential of its tourism sector. Acting Regent of Southeast Maluku, Samuel Risembessy, in press release on Saturday, mentioned that his office continues to conduct various efforts to enhance tourism potential by using 93 percent of the Sea territory, especially Kei island. Thus,  local government also makes plan of tourism program with the theme "one village, one product" which tries to create the main products either culinary, craft, or art from their villages in Southeast Maluku. The Regent also stated that Southeast Maluku improves tourism potential through "Wonderful Sail 2018" event which will be held on July 23 to 27 this year. For Wonderful Sail 2018 event, his office will focus to provide the main products from each village in Southeast Maluku regency as attraction.

Provincial government of Bangka Belitung made serious efforts to increase the number of the tourist visit with the title sport-tourism Audax Bangka 2018 among others held in Pangkalpinang and Bangka, on Saturday (17/3). The event was participated in by 220 bikers from Indonesia and abroad, namely from Singapore, Norway and Denmark. Regional secretary of Bangka Belitung, Yan Megawandi said that Audax Bangka 2018 was the first event in Bangka Belitung and the regional government support it because it has positive value. Yan Megawandi in releasing participants said in Pangkalpinang, on Saturday (17/3) that Bangka Belitung should be a tourist destination, among others for sport-tourism.

Natural Resources Conservation Office (BKSDA) of West Sumatera through Forest Ecosystem Controller of Agam Resort, Ade Putra said on Saturday (17/3/2018) that Rafflesia flower of Tuan Mudae type, currently blooms at forest conservation, Jorong Marambuang, Nagari Baringin, Palembayan district, Agam regency. The rare flower began to bloom on March 13. The flower still blooms for 10 days. The Rafflesia flower with male gender has 5 groups and diameter around 84.8 Cm. According to Ade Putra, after blooming, the flower petals will get old and black and rotten. The flower has attracted a number of parties to make research on it, including students and researchers from various universities in Sumatra.